FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BIPOC Foundation Celebrates Excellence at the 2024 Legacy Gala: Announcing This Year’s Award Winners

Friday, November 29, 2024. – Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada.

The BIPOC Foundation proudly announces the winners of the 2024 Excellence Awards, honoring remarkable contributions to entrepreneurship, innovation, and leadership. Presented at the Legacy Gala on November 1st in Lethbridge, Alberta, the awards highlight the transformative impact of BIPOC-led businesses in Western Canada.

With over 190+ attendees from across Canada, the second BIPOC Foundation Legacy Gala went above and beyond with the celebration, including various performance acts such as the Hoop Dance from Cyrus FirstCharger, the captivating storytelling performance by Deji Bowode, and the uplifting live musical performance from Stanley and his incredible band.

I loved all the different components of the event! The appetizers, photo booths, art displays, dances, and awards- I loved the variety!

Legacy Gala Attendee

The Excellence Awards spotlight BIPOC entrepreneurs who demonstrate resilience, creativity, and transformative leadership in their communities. With over 150+ nominations this year and more than 2,800 votes, the winners represent the best in innovation and impact within Western Canada’s business landscape.

Top 5 Black Women Businesses

Kemi Bolatito, founder of Scooly Technology; Evelyne Nyairo, founder of Ellie Bianca; Sudha Higgins, founder of Sudha International Trade; Melat Hadera, founder of Blaze Beauty; and Chileshe Chikwanda, founder of Suga Events and Decor.

Top 5 Indigenous Businesses 

Vince Bignell, founder of Shelly’s Indigenous Bistro & Catering; Sarah Jacknife, founder of (Re)rooting Indigenous Leadership Inc.; Tracey Fraser, founder of Helping Hands Personal Assistants; Dwayne Bird, founder of Indigipro and Carolyn Agyapong, founder of Agyapa Care.

Top 5 Black Businesses 

Abiodun E. Oke, founder of Cerial Projects Services; Emma Kamanja, founder of Eklektik Craft Distillery; Atkilt Assefa, founder of Gojo Café; Patrick Mbambo, founder of Mbambo Construction and Gladys Afolayan, founder of Kulture Institute Of Cosmetology.

Top 5 BIPOC Entrepreneurs

Olumuyiwa Igbalajobi (Ph.D), founder of Scholarships Cafe; Barnes Adevu, founder of Barnes Graphix; Nya Guy, founder of PaaS – Paralegal as a Service Inc.; Darlington Etaje, founder of PhiDrillSim and Sudha Higgins, founder of Forever Living Care Services.

A massive congratulations to our outstanding 2024 BIPOC Foundation Excellence Awards recipients! Your impact, drive, and vision inspire us every day. Here’s to your continued success!

I am truly thankful for the work and dedication that the entire BIPOC Foundation team, from the founders to the dedicated volunteers, has poured into making this event a remarkable celebration of our community…This award is a reflection not only of my own journey but of the strength, resilience, and talent that thrive within the BIPOC community. I am incredibly humbled to stand alongside so many inspiring individuals who work tirelessly to uplift and empower those around them. The commitment demonstrated by your organization to celebrate, support, and amplify Black and BIPOC businesses is vital and inspiring, and it is an honour to be recognized by such a distinguished foundation.

Atkilt Asefa / Top 5 Black Businesses Award Recipient.

Founder, Gojo Café Vancouver.

For more information on the 2025 Excellence Awards, Legacy Gala, and other BIPOC Foundation offerings, visit bipocfoundation.org and stay connected for future opportunities to celebrate and uplift BIPOC excellence.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Presenting the 1st Annual BIPOC Foundation

Excellence Awards Finalists

Friday, October 13, 2023 – Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada.

BIPOC Foundation, Western Canada’s Non-Profit for economic empowerment of BIPOC entrepreneurs and community members, is thrilled to announce the 1st Annual BIPOC Foundation Excellence Awards Finalists. 

These awards will honour the Top 10 Black Entrepreneurs, Top 5 Black Women Businesses, and Top 10 Black Businesses, each receiving a $1,000.00 value prize, news and PR coverage, BIPOC Foundation promotion, and more.

The Excellence Awards allows entrepreneurs and community members to use digital tools to provide public support and visibility to exceptional Black businesses and founders across Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Finalists must have been in business for a minimum of 2 years for the Top 10 Black Entrepreneurs category while needing a minimum of 3 years registered/operating for the best business categories.

The initiative also seeks to connect Black business owners and entrepreneurs with investors, corporations, and support organizations by adding to their profile and attracting interest in the Black entrepreneurial community in the West. The 50 Finalists will then be selected to move forward, and 25 businesses will win a BIPOC Foundation Excellence Award this year!

We look forward to celebrating with you the winners’ announcement at the BIPOC Foundation Legacy Gala.

BIPOC Foundation Legacy Gala will take place on November 10, 2023, from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the Sandman Signature Lethbridge Lodge in Lethbridge, Alberta. You can opt for your tickets and/or bring your team out by getting a table through our event portal here: www.bit.ly/bflegacygala 

For more information about the BIPOC Foundation Excellence Awards, please visit bipocfoundation.awardify.io 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Presenting the 1st Annual BIPOC Foundation Excellence Awards, For the Arts Festival, and Legacy Gala

Thursday, August 10, 2023 – Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada.

BIPOC Foundation, Western Canada’s Non-Profit for economic empowerment of BIPOC entrepreneurs and community members, is thrilled to announce the 1st Annual BIPOC Foundation Excellence Awards, For the Arts Festival, and Legacy Gala. This benchmark weekend of events celebrates and recognizes Black successes and Black business excellence throughout Canada. Through a 2.6 million dollar funding commitment from Prairies Economic Development Canada, BIPOC Foundation set out to establish a business accelerator program for Black entrepreneurs in Western Canada starting in 2022. To further our impacts, the BIPOC Foundation Excellence Awards allows entrepreneurs and community members to use digital tools to provide public support and visibility to exceptional Black businesses and founders across Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Nominees must have been in business for a minimum of 2 years for the Top 10 Black Entrepreneurs category while needing a minimum of 3 years registered/operating for the best business categories. The initiative also seeks to connect Black business owners and entrepreneurs with investors, corporations, and support organizations by adding to their profile and attracting interest in the Black entrepreneurial community in the West.

The For the Arts Festival showcases BIPOC Arts & Culture with 2 days of performances, exhibition, and connection, which will culminate at the BIPOC Foundation Legacy Gala taking place on November 10, 2023, from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the Sandman Signature Lethbridge Lodge in Lethbridge, Alberta.

This highly anticipated series of annual events launches a strong platform for the Black business community and will see attendees, finalists, sponsors, and vendors come together to show their support and the strong connectivity in BIPOC-focused networks.

Attending the Legacy Gala this year, you’ll see that it is more than just an event; it celebrates the vibrant and diverse contributions of Black entrepreneurs and businesses in Canada. The evening will be filled with networking opportunities and the presentation of the BIPOC Foundation Excellence Awards. These awards will honour the Top 10 Black Entrepreneurs, Top 5 Black Women Businesses, and Top 10 Black Businesses, each receiving a $1000.00 cash prize, news and PR coverage, BIPOC Foundation promotion, and more. The “For the Arts” Festival will be a 2-day event running on November 9 and 10, showcasing a variety of exhibits, entertainment, and artisan products in a free-to-access and family-friendly format. Take in the unique atmosphere and see what is on display while meeting new contacts and seeing displays of BIPOC forward Arts & Culture www.bit.ly/bfforthearts 

BIPOC Foundation is excited to invite all entrepreneurs, businesses, and individuals who value diversity and innovation in the business landscape to nominate themselves or their favorite Black-owned businesses for the Excellence Awards in one or multiple of the 3 categories this year. The Nomination Period will be open from August 10, 2023, to October 10, 2023. Our Public Voting period will begin on September 10th, and nominated businesses will have 1-month to gain support from their customers and community. 50 Finalists will then be selected to move forward, and 25 businesses will win a BIPOC Foundation Excellence Award this year! Don’t delay; get your nominations in prior to the start of the voting period to optimize the chances of reaching the Finalist stage. The Finalists will be announced on October 12, 2023, and will be published on this year’s BIPOC Foundation Excellence Awards site as well as on our Blog at www.bipocfoundation.org

We look forward to celebrating with you at the 1st Annual BIPOC Foundation Legacy Gala, and you can opt for your tickets and/or bring your team out by getting a table through our event portal here www.bit.ly/bflegacygala 

For more information about the BIPOC Foundation Excellence Awards and to Nominate a Business, please visit bipocfoundation.awardify.io